Incredible milestones, but not the one that put them in the record book.

On Tuesday, the Wrubels will mark their 81st year together in marriage.

In 2005, that would have vaulted the Wrubels to the top of the Guinness World Records. But today, according to a number of sources that keep track of such things, 81 years barely breaks the top 10.

Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher, 104 and 101, live in New Bern, N.C., and celebrated their 86th anniversary in May. So far they have the edge on a Los Galos, Calif., couple married for 83 years. Six other couples follow, with the Wrubels in ninth place.

Not that this is a competition. Earlier this week, in fact, Steve Wrubel said he really hadn't thought about it.

"Eighty-first, eh?'' he said when contacted by the St. Petersburg Times, which last year featured the Holiday couple on their 80th. "How about that?''

Steve and Vickie married on Sept. 28, 1929, in Ubly, Mich. They lived on her parents' farm during the Great Depression. Steve then went to work for General Motors for 38 years. They never had children.

In 1978, they moved into a small home on Melody Lane and have remained active in the Polish-American Club. They were blessed with good health and able to live without any special assistance until this year, when Vickie fell and broke a hip. "When I went to lift her,'' Steve said, "I messed up my back. But other than that, we're doing okay.''

Steve drives his Chevrolet each day to Tarpon Springs to visit his longtime bride and hopes to have her home soon.

"It's not the same around here without her,'' he said.

Record or not, Steve and Vickie Wrubel of Holiday have been by each other's side since 1929 09/25/10
[Last modified: Saturday, September 25, 2010 2:07pm]
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